Help Interpreting Results : Hi. Can I have... - Thyroid UK

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Help Interpreting Results

DownAndDesperate profile image

Hi.

Can I have advice on results? These are from a while back for anyone who has read my recent posts. I was on 1 tablet of T3 a day at this point. I previously had high thyroid antibodies but the LDN I take seems to have lowered them to be in range. I was wondering if the same has happened with pernicious anaemia antibodies as my b12 results seem normal despite not having supplemented for a long time. Does this mean I don’t need to self inject now? Doctors stopped my injections a long time ago. I’m on 20,000iu of vit D per month via doctor which was changed from 800iu per day because levels weren’t going up but they didn’t seem to believe I was taking them daily. Thanks for any help.

Results:

CRP HS 3.71 mg/l (0-5)

Ferretin 63.9 ug/l (13-150)

Folate - serum 3.59 ug/l (>3.89)

Vitamin B12 -active >150 pmol/l (37.5-150)

Vitamin D 46 nmol/l (50-200)

TSH <0.005 mu/l (0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 4.47 pmol/l (3.1 - 6.8)

Free Thyroxine 11.5 pmol/l (12- 22)

Thyroglobulin Antibodies 18 iu/ml (<115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies 32 iu/ml (<34)

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DownAndDesperate
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12 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Taking any dose of T3, even an inadequate dose, TSH will almost always drop extremely low, shutting down your own thyroid

These results reflect that

Below range Ft4 and Ft3 too low

Hypothyroid but with suppressed TSH

Low vitamin levels as direct result

What are your most recent results

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks for your response.

These are the most recent results I have access to. The hospital are not responding to my requests so I need to make a subject access request.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to DownAndDesperate

These are from a while back for anyone who has read my recent posts. I was on 1 tablet of T3 a day at this point.

How long ago was test done

What dose tablet

Have you changed what you’re taking since these results

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate in reply to SlowDragon

They’re about 10 months old - I didn’t realise it was so long ago but I’ve just checked.

I went up to 2 tablets of T3 but came off T3 completely at the end of January as I was told that this caused my heart attack. Bloods were taken a couple of hours before the heart attack and ones were taken in the following days in hospital. These are the results I’ve been trying to obtain with no luck. Other than that I haven’t changed what I’ve been taking.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to DownAndDesperate

So are you taking levothyroxine too

Retest full thyroid and vitamins 6-8 weeks after stopping T3

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate in reply to SlowDragon

Sorry, yes. I was taking 100mcg levo, now taking 150mcg.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to DownAndDesperate

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine

Get full thyroid and vitamin testing 6-8 weeks after being on 150mcg daily

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate in reply to SlowDragon

I get whatever the doctors give me - I honestly haven’t checked to see if they’re the same. Will do, thanks.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to DownAndDesperate

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Most easily available (and often most easily tolerated) are Mercury Pharma or Accord

Mercury Pharma make 25mcg, 50mcg and 100mcg tablets 

Mercury Pharma also boxed as Eltroxin. Both often listed by company name on pharmacy database - Advanz

Accord only make 50mcg and 100mcg tablets. Accord is also boxed as Almus via Boots, 

Wockhardt is very well tolerated, but only available in 25mcg tablets. Some people remain on Wockhardt, taking their daily dose as a number of tablets 

Lactose free brands - currently Teva or Vencamil only

Teva makes 25mcg, 50mcg, 75mcg and 100mcg

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine.

Teva is lactose free.But Teva contains mannitol as a filler instead of lactose, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Mannitol seems to upset many people, it changes gut biome 

Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet.

So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

But for some people (usually if lactose intolerant, Teva is by far the best option)

Vencamil (currently 100mcg only) is lactose free and mannitol free. 25mcg and 50mcg tablets hopefully available from summer 2024

March 2023 - Aristo now called Vencamil

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

List of different brands available in U.K.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Posts that mention Teva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Government guidelines for GP in support of patients if you find it difficult/impossible to change brands

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/l...

If a patient reports persistent symptoms when switching between different levothyroxine tablet formulations, consider consistently prescribing a specific product known to be well tolerated by the patient.

If symptoms or poor control of thyroid function persist (despite adhering to a specific product), consider prescribing levothyroxine in an oral solution formulation.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

And here

pharmacymagazine.co.uk/clin...

Discussed here too

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks for all that.

I’ve checked and it’s usually Teva or Accord. I’m not sure how to tell which ones agree with me well though because I’ve never felt any different on Levo. When I started Levo I felt no difference and if I forget to take one or two I feel no difference.

Do I go to the doctor about the brand or the pharmacy?

Thanks

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to DownAndDesperate

Pay more attention to symptoms, especially if taking Teva

Only take one brand for both tablets

Try 6-8 weeks on Accord and test

Then try 6-8 weeks on Teva and test

Some people notice no difference…..but many do

DownAndDesperate profile image
DownAndDesperate

Oh - the T3 is tiromel and comes in 25mcg.

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